Series receptacle



Oct. 22, 1929. p, s, BAILEY 1,733,000

SERIES RECEPTACLE Filed April 1'7, 1924 "Inventor perc $.Bc1LLgy H Ls Attorne y atenteci Oct. 2 2 19 29 UNITED STATES F PATENT OFFICE PERCY S. BAILEY, OF MIARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENmL ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK snams nncnr'racnr.

Application filed April 17,

The present invention relates to incandescent electric lighting, and more especially to series street lighting.

' Where electric lamps are operated 1n series relation, the current potential is approximately'in proportion to the number of lamps used. Since the introduction of the tungsten lamp, incandescent series systems of street lighting have been widely extended and the number of lamps installed in a single series has been accordingly increased to such an extent that the standard lamp supports have been found to be ill adapted to sustain the relatively high potentials imposed thereon. I

The object of my invention is the provision of an improved series lamp receptacle which shall operate in conjunction with the standard fixture and the standard lamp socket and be well capable of withstanding the high electrical potentials which modern practice imposes.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a series lamp fixture with an improved receptacle member therein; Fig. 2 is an under side view of the receptacle and socket, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryview of a reflector or globe clamp.

The supporting fixture bell 1 shown, is the ordinary cast iron terminus of an iron pipe or supporting bracket (not shown), and it is provided'with a plurality of set screws 2 adjacent its lower edge for securing the lamp receptacle 3 thereto. The receptacle 3 is of porcelain or other good insulating material in the form of an inverted bowl, the upper central dome or knob 4.- of which is adapted to enter and nearly fill the bell 1, and is provided with side recesses'5 for the reception of the holding set screws 2. The

disk portion or zone 6 outside the central dome 4 is made somewhat conical to enable it more readily to shed water. A cylindrical wall 7 depends from the under surface of the receptacle to enclose a socket chamber 8. This wall is set in a considerable distance from the edge of the disk portion 6 and two lugs 9 are formed on the opposite sides thereof within the overhang of the disk. These 1924. Serial No. 707,264.

12 for the reception of the supporting andshunting contacts 13. i

The supporting and shunting contacts 13 are phosphor bronze leaf springs with outj'turned lower ends firmly secured to the upperside of the chamber 8 by screws 14 extending downwardly through countersunk holes 15 in the dome part 4 and engaging at their lower ends with terminal blocks 16 carrying pairs of binding screws 17 and disposed opposite the entrance holes 11. The upper ends of the shunting contacts 13 normally spring together so that unless positively separated current will flow from one wire terminal 16 to the other. In order that they may be adapted for wedging apart the upper tip ends are bent in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 1.

The series lamp socket 28 is of standard construction with the usual film cutout 18 carried between spring contacts 19 respectively connected at their lower ends'with the center and screw shell contacts 20 and 21 within the socket 17. The upner ends of the socket contacts 19 are bent to form a wedgeshaped head 22 adapted readily to be forced between the shunting contacts 13.

When the socket contacts 19 are home between the contacts 13, as indicated in Fig. 1, the current passes from one wire terminal block 16 through its adjacent contact 13 to the socket contact 19 in engagement therewith, through the lamp (not shown), back through the'opposi'te socket contact 19, theopposite receptacle contact 13-and to the other wire terminal block 16. i

The countersunk screw holes 15 are filled with cementand by reason of the current carrying parts being entirely walled in by insulating material, it is impossible for the current to become groundedthrough the supporting fixture.

In order that a reflector or shading globe 23 may be connected directly to the receptacle, a plurality of clamping screws 24 are radially journalled in the lower end of the cylindrical wall 7 and provided at their outer ends with thumb wings 25, while their threaded inner ends engage holding clips 26 adapted at their lower ends to grip the edge of the globe 23 while their upper ends are guided by rackets 27 secured to the inner'surface of the wall 7.

While I have shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A lighting receptacle for metallic fixtures comprising a disk-shaped insulating member having at its upper side an imperforate integral suspension dome and at its lower side a chamber, and a recess extending therefrom into said dome, said suspension dome having external means "for attachment to the fixture, line terminals secured Within said chamber, and shunting contacts respectively connected to said terminals and extending upwardly into said recess.

2. A lighting receptacle for metallic fixtures comprising a disk-shaped insulating member having at its upper side an imperforate integral suspension dome and at its lower side a c lindrical Wall and a recess extending upwar ly into said dome, said suspension dome having external means for attachment to the fixture, line terminals secured to the lower side of said. insulating member on opposite sides of said recess, and shunting spring contacts connected respectively to said terminals and enclosed in said recess. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of April, 1924.

v PERCY S. BAILEY. 

